Progress blocked by opposition – Bredell

DISCIPLINARY action will be taken against 12 Oudtshoorn councillors who did not show up for a recent council meeting.

Last Friday, a scheduled council meeting was abandoned after 10 ANC councillors, and one each from the National People’s Party (NPP) and Independent Civics Organisation of SA (Icosa), did not attend the meeting.

On the agenda was the consideration of notices, including a motion of no confidence in the mayor, Wessie van der Westhuizen, deputy mayor John Stoffels and speaker Chris Macpherson.

The agenda also included the consideration of multiple reports on financial services, corporate services and more.

Macpherson said disciplinary action would be instituted against the councillors and the same motion of no confidence could not be heard again in council for three months.

“I’m very, very disappointed. Oudtshoorn has been subjected to a lot of similar actions and our service delivery is definitely not on par. The issues that needed to be addressed here are aimed at rectifying that. This would have been the first time after months of negotiations to eventually ensure we have a fully fledged scheduled meeting regarding the advancement of service delivery,” he said.

The ANC’s Klasie Windvogel said the party had not received information regarding the vote of no confidence in time for the council meeting. He, however, would not elaborate on what the information detailed. The party had informed Macpherson of their decision not to attend.

Icosa’s Dawid Kamfer said there was “no reason” for the non-attendance and NPP member Stoffels, the current deputy mayor, refused to comment.

Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning MEC Anton Bredell said: “The opposition parties seem to be determined to block progress in Oudtshoorn, despite the hard work being done by the administration team.

“The administration is backed by the national and provincial governments, and were it not for the attitudes of the opposition in the council, Oudtshoorn could be turned around much quicker.”

Bredell said only one council member had sent an apology for non-attendance.

“No other apology was received… There was no quorum and the meeting could not continue. This is extremely disappointing and frustrating. Playing petty political games is not in the best interests of the people of Oudtshoorn,” Bredell said.

The intervention would continue regardless and the meeting would be rescheduled, he added. lisa.isaacs@inl.co.za

@lisa_isaacs